"We definitely had the bounces on our side and we used our opportunities early," Oilers coach Ralph Krueger said. "Devan Dubnyk played an outstanding game and the special teams, especially the penalty killing, did what they needed to do."

Jaromir Jagr netted the lone goal for the Stars, losers in five of their last eight. Kari Lehtonen returned after a five-game absence due to a groin injury, and was shelled for all five goals on 33 shots.

"I thought he made a big save there when it was two nothing to keep us in, but we couldn't capitalize," Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said of Lehtonen's return. "But he got a game in and we have to all get better."

Only 73 seconds into the game, Edmonton took the lead when Gagner's attempted center from the right-wing corner deflected off a body in front and past Lehtonen.

Schultz doubled the advantage with 6:08 remaining, and Dubnyk made the two- goal lead hold up with 15 stops in the opening 20 minutes

A backhanded prayer from the outer edge of the left circle from Petry on a rush with 13.9 seconds left in the second put Edmonton up 3-0.

Hemsky's soft shot hit the back of the net with 50 seconds elapsed in the third period, then Eager's first of the season pushed the Oilers' edge to 5-0 with 8:23 on the clock.

Jagr broke the shutout bid with 5:55 remaining on a slapper from between the circles, preventing what would have been the franchise's worst home shutout defeat to the Oilers since moving to Dallas.

Game Notes

The North Stars dropped a 5-0 decision to the Oilers on Dec. 19, 1989 at the
Met Center ... Edmonton snapped a five-game losing skid in Dallas and won for
just the third time in the last 13 games in Texas since a 2-0 victory on Dec.
8, 2006 ... The Oilers welcomed back forward Taylor Hall, who served his 2-
game suspension for kneeing Minnesota's Cal Clutterbuck and recorded an assist
in 19:31 of ice time ... Thursday was also the Dallas debut of forward Erik
Cole, acquired from Montreal on Tuesday, and the veteran was a minus-two with
one shot on goal in nearly 15 minutes of action.